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Phoenix's Machado wins two events ASHLAND - The Phoenix Pirates didn't have the numbers to match up against Henley or North Valley in Saturday's Skyline Conference district track and field meet. What the Pirates had going for them at Raider Stadium on the Southern Oregon University campus, however, was Tony Machado. The sleek senior speedster won both the 100 and 200 meters and nearly pulled off a come-from-behind win in the 4x100 relay. "I was hoping for three wins today, but I wanted at least two," said Machado, who was named the meet's outstanding track performer. Machado was clocked in 11.01 seconds in the 100 and 22.87 in the 200. He joined forces with Keanon Ferguson, Chris Swann and Casey Robins to place second in the 4x100 relay (44.41). Overall, Phoenix finished third. North Valley junior Cole Parmelee, who won the high jump and long jump on Friday and added a second in the triple jump Saturday was named outstanding field-event performer. Although North Valley held a 1041/2-96 lead after 10 events, it couldn't match Henley on the track for the Knights. Henley finished with 2001/2 points, North Valley 1581/2, Phoenix 841/2, Lakeview 781/2, Mazama 671/2, Illinois Valley 31, Hidden Valley 27 and Rogue River 16. The Class 3A state meet is next Friday and Saturday at Hayward Field in Eugene. "Henley has a lot of seniors and that really made a difference for them," said North Valley coach Jeff Richard. "A lot of people would be unhappy with second place, but our kids did the best they could." Henley coach Ron Smith said despite his team's depth, he still woke up at 3 a.m. Saturday pondering the events ahead. "We had three boys in just about every final," Smith said. "It's kind of how we live and die." Henley, however, won just three individual events and two relays. Machado said his 200 victory, where he held off Lakeview's Derek Strubel, was the most significant. "You can't dwell too much on one race and the 100 took a lot out of me," Machado said. "I kicked around the corner the best I could, because our speed matches. (Strubel) holds out until you fail and then kicks it in. His strides are enormous - one of his are equal to two of mine." Phoenix sophomore Nathan May showed a little speed of his own as he rallied to win the 1,500 to go with his Friday 3,000 title. May led a tightly-bunched pack through the first two laps in 2:24, but at the 1,000-meter mark, Lakeview' Josh Harlan surged to the front and looked to be in command with 300 meters to go. "I wanted to hit the third lap hard," said Harlan. "All those other guys have tremendous kicks, and May showed it in the last 100 meters." May pulled within 10 meters heading into the homestretch and blew past Harlan with 30 meters to go. "I knew they were coming," Harlan said. "I just didn't know how far back and how many. Hopefully, it was just May." May was clocked in 4:22.30, while Harlan was timed in 4:23.40. Phoenix freshman Kyle Gillette was third in 4:26.76. May, who ran a 64-second final lap, said he had no doubt he could overtake Harlan. "I felt like he was within my grasp," May said. "Right now, this is a big achievement for me as a sophomore. But it's also a steppingstone to prepare me for state." Rogue River senior Nathan Love, who entered the meet with the fastest 800 and 1,500 times, struggled to a fifth-place finish in the 1,500. He barely made it 20 meters before tumbling off the track in pain in the 800. Love was in a car wreck last November, but continued to train and fared well this season until late April, when tendon pulls and tears began to hobble him. "It's bad enough to get beat your senior year," said Rogue River coach Floyd Graves. "It's worse when you can't even compete." North Valley picked up wins from junior Travis Wheeler in the shot put (48-53/4), senior Ralph Santiago in the javelin (160-11) and junior Ken Hiler in the high hurdles (16.05). Strubel retained his triple jump crown, besting Parmelee (44-63/4 to 43-10), while Lakeview freshman Ryan Nash earned a trip to the state meet with a 43-2 effort, meeting the state qualifying standard (42-8). Strubel also won the 400 in 50.84. Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4483, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.